Santa Cruz church celebrates Labor Day with community
It was a day filled with friends, family and barbecues at the park for many on the Central Coast.
Whether you traveled for Labor Day or stayed at home and fired up the grill, the holiday traditionally marks the end of summer.
Americans have to thank workers back in the late 1800s for being able to take a day off and cook some hot dogs, which is exactly what one church group over in Santa Cruz did on Monday to celebrate.
“This has been, I think this is actually our ninth annual barbecue out here, so this has been our tradition,” Bobby Marchessault, the lead pastor of Missio Dei Community in Santa Cruz. “Barbecuing with friends and just taking the day to relax and have a good time, it’s a national holiday and enjoy each others’ company and build community.”
While the first Monday in September has become known for grilling and chilling, Marchessault knows his history.
“It is also a celebration of the labor movement and those who do work hard in our country and taking care of those individuals,” he said.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, this national holiday started out of municipal ordinances passed in the mid-1880s.
From there began a movement to make Labor Day a national celebration. It became a reality when on June 28, 1894, Congress passed a law making it a legal holiday across the country.
The core meaning of Labor Day is still important now on the Central Coast.
“Well, it’s important for working people to support each other, and when we celebrate together and we spend time together, we get to know each other, we’ll be stronger when the fights over worker rights arise,” said Alan Haffa, the chair of the Monterey County Democratic Party.
“We believe that as a church that we should be a part of that as well, fighting for the rights of people who don’t have as much representation and aren’t working for a living wage,” said Marchessault.
Another interesting fact, there is some debate as to who first came up with the idea for Labor Day. Some records say the general secretary for the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners started the holiday. Others say it was a machinist from the same time who is the true founder.
